Thaci Says US Democrats Support Self-Determination of People of Kosova
KosovaLive - Wednesday, August 4, 2004

Sllatine (Slatina), 4 Aug (KosovaLive) -- US Democrats have reiterated their determination to recognize the will of the people of Kosova (Kosovo) for self-determination, PDK (Democratic Party of Kosovo) Chairman Hashim Thaci said today.

The PDK leader made these comments at the Prishtina airport upon his return from a several-day visit to the United States. Thaci went on this visit at the invitation of the Democratic Party of the United States and, upon his return to Kosova, he said that he came back with great hopes that things would be moving for the better in the future.

"It was a very successful visit at the Democratic Convention, where the PDK had been invited as a guest. It was confirmed once again that the democratic authorities would recognize and respect the will of the people of Kosova for self-determination," Thaci said.

The PDK leader said that, at all meetings -- in Pentagon, Department of State, and at the National Security Council -- he had been assured of US support for the processes through which Kosova had been going.

In this respect, Thaci said that the advancement of the political processes, implementation of standards, and that the year 2005 must not be the year of political delay have been mentioned at these meetings.

The PDK leader said that he had called for the US to assume a leading role with regard to the issue of the status of Kosova and added that the issue of status should be tackled jointly by the Contact Group and the local authorities. Thaci said that he had called for transfer of powers to the Kosovars after the autumn election and for UNMIK (UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) to have only a supervisory role.

"In this respect, we have received full support of the US authorities and have been assured that UNMIK will be transformed, powers will be transferred, and that the Kosovars will have a say in the reserved powers of UNMIK. In this way, the country will be prepared gradually for the resolution of the political status," Thaci told the media.

With regard to the idea of the Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bernard Bot for Kosova, Serbia, and Montenegro to form a confederal or federal state, Thaci said that no idea of confederal or federal state is acceptable. "Confederal state is out of the question. Kosova must be independent," Thaci said.

The PDK leader said that it was very fortunate and to the great benefit for our national interests that the Albanians are the most reliable and loyal partner of the United States in the region. "The Kosova institutions, too, must work on advancing these relations," he said.

Thaci said that he had asked the United States to consider possibilities for recruiting Kosovars to work there.

"Not only the United States but also Europe must have a new approach to respect Kosova citizens. Regardless of the status, Kosova citizens must enjoy the rights according to European standards and be able to work and study in Western Europe," Thaci concluded.

(Description of Source: Pristina KosovaLive News Agency WWW-Text in Albanian -- independent press agency)

City/Source: Pristina KosovaLive News Agency WWW-Text

FBIS Document Number: FBIS-EEU-2004-0805

Original Source Language: Albanian

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